'Hairspray' opens this weekend at Yucca

Georgia TempleMidland Reporter-Telegram

Published 7:00 am, Tuesday, April 26, 2011

'Hairspray' opens this weekend at Yucca

By Georgia Temple

Entertainment Editor

The year is 1962. The place: Baltimore. Wilbur Turnblad owns the Har-De-Har Hut joke shop. He encourages his daughter, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad, to pursue her dream. His wife, Edna, runs a laundry out of their house and always has dreamed of creating a line of clothing. She fears Tracy will be laughed at because of her weight if she tries to make her dream a reality.

That dream?

Tracy wants to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program.

"She's very optimistic," said Katie Bailey, who plays Tracy. "She definitely has rose-colored glasses on. She just wants to be friends with everybody. She loves life. She has a zeal for life."

After securing a place on the show, Tracy finds its segregation policy unacceptable.

"I really think the message is acceptance regardless of your race, gender, physical profile," said Bryan Foreman, who plays teenage heartthrob Link Larken. "And it's just that all people really can live together in peace and dance to the same music. And that's one of the biggest parts about it -- the whole segregation idea -- and Tracy comes in and unites everyone through dance."

"Hairspray," opening this weekend at the Yucca Theatre, is a joint production between Midland College's drama and music departments and Midland Community Theatre.

"The Midland College Jazz Band with 10 members is going to be the orchestra for the show," said Tim Jebsen, MCT executive director and director for the musical. "The Midland College Choir is going to be singing in support of the show. And there are 25 cast members in the show, so there's really almost 50 people involved in the overall production. For us, that's a rather unique proposition."

All the Details:

What:

Musical "Hairspray," presented by Midland College and Midland Community Theatre

When:

8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and May 6 and 7

Where:

Yucca Theatre, 208 N. Colorado Ave.

Non-member tickets:

$18 adults, $12 children (Additional ticket processing fees applied)

Member tickets:

$12 adults, $10 children

Special fundraising events planned in conjunction with "Hairspray:"

What:

"Who's Who Behind the Do?"

When:

today, 7 p.m.

Tickets:

$75 for an individual.

Sponsor tables:

$600 and $1,500.

What:

"Edna & Tracy Turnblad's Mother Daughter To Do," for mothers and daughters of all ages.

When:

May 7, 2 p.m.

Tickets:

$45 for an individual. Tables of eight: $500. Event includes cupcakes, Coke and Root beer floats with souvenir glass. The Midland College cosmetology department will be manning miniature beauty stations.